The Weekly Focus @ Saint Miriam: November 29th 2015
Saint Miriam in Prose: From our Pastor
Click Here to visit our pastor’s Blog for this week!
Saint Miriam in Prayer: Remembering!
All those traveling this holiday weekend, Joe, Celine and family, Maia, Andrea S., Bishop Ken, Andrea, Sue, Vince, Nick, Irma, Mary Grace, Ricky, Susan, Dave, Christopher, Patrick, Bessie, Robert, Rich, Guy, Eleanore, Ed, Liz and Jane, Paulette, Patricia, Bill, Louise, Marie, Ruth, BJ, Angela, Chester, Stacia, Victoria, James, Juliana, Charles, Fred, and Dee.
(To be included in our prayer list, or to receive pastoral care, communion for shut ins, or any other pastoral need, please let us know by Clicking Here.)
Saint Miriam in Brief: A Quick Look!
Today we … honor the First Sunday of Advent and the Baptism of Victoria Rose Olson!
It’s Advent! We await, in wonder, the birth of the Christ child, our Lord and Savior, the Light of the World. Today, at the start of the Liturgical Year the church invites us to set out on a great journey – to follow the footstep of Christ in all of his mysteries so that we can live as he lived. Today’s gospel story calls on us to do two things that can be very hard to hold together: to be realistic about how the world is going and at the same time not to lose hope in the future. Today we begin to retell the story of a God who so loved the world that he sent his only Son to be human just like us. Saint Miriam invites you to make this season meaningful. Stop, listen, change, and allow God to come. O come, O come, Emmanuel…
Christmas “Greening” Begins Today! Join us with your gift of flowers to help us ‘green the parish for Christmas! Let us welcome the birth of our Christ with beautiful poinsettia and evergreens for a traditional Christmas decor that will stimulate and excite! See anyone on staff today! Let us make the new home of Saint Miriam a beautiful place this holiday!
Advent 40-Hour Devotion Coming this Thursday! If you have interest in deepening your devotion to Christ, join us for a “40 Hours with Jesus: An Advent Devotional” for the Season of Advent! It is like a mini retreat where we will devote time to confessions, adoration, and sitting with our Lord! The Forty Hours Devotion is a special 40-hour period of continuous prayer made before the Blessed Sacrament in solemn exposition and will begin with a Mass on Thursday, December 3rd 2015 at 6:00pm. The Forty Hours Devotion begins with a Solemn Mass of Exposition, which concludes with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a procession. The Blessed Sacrament remains on the altar in a monstrance. During the next 40 hours, the faithful gather for personal or public prayer in adoration of our Lord. At the end of the 40 hour devotion, the Mass of Reposition is offered, again concluding with a procession, benediction and final reposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Download a Flyer Here Today and then join us as we ‘sit, watch, and wait’ with Our Lord this year! Sign up in the Diener Room today, or see anyone on staff. You really do not want to miss this one!
Our Organ Sadly ‘Bites the Dust‘! Our organ is not operational and we had a repair guy arrive last week who said it is irreparable. By a small miracle, we have located a church willing to sell us their second organ, and have begun arrangements to get it into place. You can imagine this is not an inexpensive task. Please make a donation today using the special envelopes to help us. A memorial or honor dedication plaque is available for any donation over $200. If you or your family wish to make the organ a gift from your family, please see Alan or Monsignor Jim. (A minimum donation of $5,000 is needed.) Please consider this wonderful way to honor your family legacy.
Now TEXT Your Gifts to Saint Miriam! Text Giving allows you to give to your organization by simply sending a text message to our specially reserved phone number! You just “Text any dollar amount to (215) 515-6511.” Once you text an amount (like “$50” or “120.50”) you would either be sent an acknowledgment for the gift (meaning it processed) or given a short link to click in order to provide their payment information (one time only). You are also prompted by text message with instructions. The whole process is designed to be very simple and self explanatory. Another way to give and support…making it easy so try it today!
Breakfast with Santa! Join us on December 12th for Breakfast with Santa from 8:30am-9:45am. We will serve pancakes, juice & coffee and all kids will receive a gift all for only $8 per person. We will also be offering a Parent’s Night Out from 6-9pm on December 12 for only $15. If you purchase $200 in Scrip, this will be FREE! Please contact our director, BethAnn Leaming with any questions or if you would like to register at bethann.leaming@mysaintmiriam.org. Blessed holidays coming with great food, too!
Saint Miriam in Life: News!
Parents’ Night Out for December! Three full hours of babysitting by the finest staff on the planet – all for only $15 and you can go out to shop, eat, or just gain some needed downtime! Click Here and get your reservation in for Saturday, December 12th from 6:00pm – 9:00pm and enjoy yourselves! AND!!! If you purchase $200 in SCRIP Cards (see below) you get the three hours FREE!
Bring a Toys for Tots This Week! The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and we help through our Zion Preschool every year! See the box in the school/admin wing this week and make a child’s holiday brighter!
Join us for the Annual Tree Lighting and Memorial? Every year the fine folks at Boyd-Horrox Funeral Home, Life Celebrations and our own Rick Falicki hold an annual tree lighting and remembrance for those who suffered a loss. This year, they have invited Monsignor Jim to be a featured speaker. Please join us – and support our pastor in his own grief this year – on Wednesday, December 9th 2015 at 6:30pm at 200 West Germantown Pike Norristown, PA 19401. Remember to share the grief of others to help heal the world this holiday season.
Christmas party for all PREP children after classes on December 20th! To ensure that all will be able to attend, all classes will begin after the children’s homily and end at 10:00am. The party will follow from 10:00am-11:00am. Also, after our party we will travel to the nearby Phoebe Wyncote Nursing Home to visit with the residents, sing Christmas Carrols and bring them cards and gifts. We will only be staying for about an hour, but for many of the residents, that may be the only visitors they get for Christmas. What a wonderful way to show our children the true meaning of Christmas! More details to following in the coming weeks.
Our Saint Miriam Covenant! Did you know we have a covenant to live by? Some parishioners have not read the covenant we abide by at Saint Miriam. It makes us stronger and allows us to grow. A copy has been posted on the main news bulletin board and you can read it online by Clicking Here. Please…let us grow and become wiser through our mutual covenant.
Visit the Cafe’ On-Line, too! Our Saint Miriam Cafe’ is such a hit and now will grow again with the introduction of seasonal features, colored menu boards, new punch cards for seasonal hot and cold lattes, its own Facebook page Cafe and a feature on its own at our parish website at its Cafe Page! And if you can spare time to help a little on Sunday, please let Lorraine know. Join us every Sunday and see what’s cooking’!
Updated Ministry Schedules Posted. The computer generated schedules for serving were tedious to read and so new ministry schedules were released this month in a simpler format and that cover two months at a time! Click Schedules and let us know how we did and see where you are scheduled to help serve?
Help Promote Saint Miriam? There are many simple ways to support the parish and one is to share and like all of our posts from our various Social media pages like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Remember, if you don’t share people don’t see the posts!
Download Our App and Stay In Touch! Our Saint Miriam Parish App was recently updated and features faster download times, and a ‘refresh’ button for the newest content! Download the App by Clicking Here, and be sure to tell your friends as it is a great outreach tool!
Saint Miriam in Support: Join and Grow our Mission!
Ways to Support Saint Miriam? There are many ways to support the mission of our parish and a flyer has been prepared to show you how easy it is! Please learn about GoodSearch, GoodShop, eBay, and Amazon Smile! Please support us and pick up a flyer or Support Flyer one today!
Now TEXT Your Gifts to Saint Miriam! Text Giving allows you to give to your organization by simply sending a text message to our specially reserved phone number! You just “Text any dollar amount to (215) 515-6511.” Once you text an amount (like “$50” or “120.50”) you would either be sent an acknowledgment for the gift (meaning it processed) or given a short link to click in order to provide their payment information (one time only). You are also prompted by text message with instructions. The whole process is designed to be very simple and self explanatory. Another way to give and support…making it easy so try it today!
Mass Donations Needed! As Catholics the most important thing we do is pray and offer the sacrifice of the Mass. Please…don’t forget to make your Mass intentions today by Clicking Here. Together, we honor God in Mass.
SCRIP is Back, Baby! With our preschool parents asking for SCRIP, we will dust off the program! Scrip is Fundraising While You Shop®. This amazingly successful fundraising program works for any school, church, team, club or other non-profit! Scrip turns everyday shopping into cash for your organization when families use retail gift cards to pay for everyday purchases (like gas and groceries) instead of the usual credit/debit card or other money. Scrip works equally well for onetime fundraising goals or year-round programs. Download the Categorized Family Order Form or see anyone on Staff to pre-order (or check out our in-stock cards by calling 215-836-9800 x 707) and join in and watch us grow…all because of you!
Get Your Candles! Everyone loves Yankee Candles! Great gifts for holidays, anniversaries, hostess gifts and birthdays. Order online and product is shipped directly to your home and Saint Miriam receives 40% profit. Volunteers will be available throughout the campaign to assist you with your online orders. Just click on this link , our group code is 990048826. Now you can click on a category and start shopping for America’s best loved candles and accessories. Please support Saint Miriam and help us grow. The sales dates are September 27, 2015 – October 12, 2015. The online campaign is extended to December 31, 2015. Let’s all pray for success!
Get Your Mass Intentions In Person Beginning Today? Join the Women of Saint Miriam after any Mass and make your Mass Intentions live and in person! Now you can honor a loved one in person and online, too!
Search, Smile, and Make a Difference! Please support Saint Miriam by downloading and using GoodSearch and GoodShop! Our current total raised is $857.68! Every time you search or buy, we get a small percentage and you get great deals, and often free shipping! Also use Smile Amazon and make us your charity of choice! It all adds up!
Saint Miriam in Petite: Join a Small Group!
Life is not meant to be lived alone. In fact, God hates loneliness. You were created to experience life with other people, and that’s why at Saint Miriam, we encourage you to get involved in one of our amazing Small Groups!
A ‘Small Group” is a group of three or more people who gather each month in a home, workplace, or oftentimes in our parish. In a group you’ll hang out, study, discuss, laugh, discover, and even pray together! They include Sacred Meal Dinner, Support, Foyer Dinner, Fitness, Spirituality, Women, Prayer Shawl Ministry, and so many more! Our Small Group participants come in all shapes and sizes — married couples, singles, men, women, kids, no kids, workplace, under 20, over 40 — the list goes on! So, no matter where you are in life, there’s a group waiting just for you.
Ready to dive in? Find a group that fits you or start one of your own! Click Here to visit our Small Group page!
Feature Small Group Announcement…
The Sacristy Guild!
The word sacristy stems from the Latin “sacer,” or “sacred” and that is exactly what this group does by maintaining and caring for the most sacred items we use at Saint Miriam. The Sacristy Guild oversees a great breadth of coverage in preparing for each service and Mass. The Guild members change paraments, they set out communion ware, set out the Paschal candle if needed, mark liturgical readings in the Ambo found in the Lectionary and Gospel Book, and organize pew hymnals. The Sacristy Guild also helps with cleaning the linens after a communion, polishing the silver communion ware, when needed, replace votive candles, and help to prepare and then clean the homebound Communion kits.
For more information, or to help us in this vital area, please see Deacon Pat, or contact us!
Saint Miriam in Fellowship: The Saint Miriam Cafe’!
Just click on this link for this Month’s Menu in PDF format and have it all month long!
The November Menu!
The December Menu!
Saint Miriam in Calendar Form: Event Highlights!
(Visit our Parish Calendar Here for full weekly, monthly, and yearly schedules.)
November 29th –Baptism of Victoria Olson at 11:00am Morning Mass.
December 3rd – 40 Hours Devotional begins at 6:00pm!
December 9th – Annual Tree Lighting at Boyd-Horrox Funeral Home begins at 6:30pm!
December 12th – Breakfast with Santa at 8:30am – 9:45am!
– Parents Night Out from 6:00pm – 9:00pm!
December 20th – PREP Christmas Party and outing to Phoebe Wyncote Nursing Home!
December 22nd – The Longest Night Service at 6:30pm!
December 24th – Christmas Eve Family Mass with St. Nick Visit at 4:30pm!
– Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at Eight 0’Clock at 8:00pm!
December 25th – Christmas Day Masses at 9:00am and 11:00am!
The Weekly Focus @ Saint Miriam: November 22nd 2015
Saint Miriam in Prose: From our Pastor
Click Here to visit our pastor’s Blog for this week!
Saint Miriam in Prayer: Remembering!
Maia, Bishop Ken, Andrea, Sue, Vince, Nick, Irma, Mary Grace, Ricky, Susan, Dave, Christopher, Patrick, Bessie, Robert, Rich, Guy, Eleanore, Ed, Liz and Jane, Paulette, Patricia, Bill, Louise, Marie, Ruth, BJ, Angela, Chester, Stacia, Victoria, James, Juliana, Charles, Fred, and Dee.
(To be included in our prayer list, or to receive pastoral care, communion for shut ins, or any other pastoral need, please let us know by Clicking Here.)
Saint Miriam in Brief: A Quick Look!
Today we … honor the Solemnity Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe!
It’s Concert Time!!! Thanks to the effort of quite a few parishioners, and many great donations to our Silent Auction, we have a great program slated for Friday, November 20th at 6:00pm! So come out and show support for your parish, your preschool and make all of the effort and hard work of so many worth it! Join us as we present a grand evening and lots of fun!
Sunday we Honor those who Serve our Parish! If you serve as a reader, greeter, altar server, sacristan or usher, please join us as we honor you at the 11:00am Mass! Everyone receives a gift and a little love, too! Join us as we honor those who honor us!
Now TEXT Your Gifts to Saint Miriam! Text Giving allows you to give to your organization by simply sending a text message to our specially reserved phone number! You just “Text any dollar amount to (215) 515-6511.” Once you text an amount (like “$50” or “120.50”) you would either be sent an acknowledgment for the gift (meaning it processed) or given a short link to click in order to provide their payment information (one time only). You are also prompted by text message with instructions. The whole process is designed to be very simple and self explanatory. Another way to give and support…making it easy so try it today!
Holiday Happenings in Color (on-line version please)? We heard you! Some of the many holiday celebrations and happenings at the parish were getting lost with all the news so we colored the headlines below in a festive green to help make them easy to spot! Anything in the bright green headlines are holiday happenings and we hope you will join us!
Join us for Thanksgiving Dinner! Every year our Zion Preschool at Saint Miriam holds an annual Thanksgiving Day Brunch for the students, families, and staff! Deep fried and baked turkey, stuffing, relish dishes, desserts and so much more! Join us on Tuesday, November 24th 2015 at 12 Noon and show your Saint Miriam spirit of thanksgiving! To bring a dish, RSVP, or learn more…email us here!
Community Thanksgiving Interfaith Worship Service! Monsignor Jim will be a featured speaker at the annual Community Thanksgiving Interfaith Worship Service to be held on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 7:30pm at Christ’s Lutheran Church, Pennsylvania Avenue, Oreland, PA. Please plan on joining us and supporting Father!
Our Saint Miriam Covenant! Did you know we have a covenant to live by? Some parishioners have not read the covenant we abide by at Saint Miriam. It makes us stronger and allows us to grow. A copy has been posted on the main news bulletin board and you can read it online by Clicking Here. Please…let us grow and become wiser through our mutual covenant.
Saint Miriam in Life: News!
Parents’ Night Out for December! Three full hours of babysitting by the finest staff on the planet – all for only $15 and you can go out to shop, eat, or just gain some needed downtime! Click Here and get your reservation in for Saturday, December 12th from 6:00pm – 9:00pm 
and enjoy yourselves! AND!!! If you purchase $200 in SCRIP Cards (see below) you get the three hours FREE!
Keeping Us Healthy: Some parishioners have not made their monthly contributions toward their Capital Campaign pledges. Please do not let this go any longer, as your promise allows us to maintain and grow the building projects. Without your financial support, we will not be able to sustain the project on the wooded lot, nor satisfy the recent move and build-out obligations. Please see Alan today or email us by Clicking Here to set up your eGift. Join us and honor what we promised!
Visit the Cafe’ On-Line, too! Our Saint Miriam Cafe’ is such a hit and now will grow again with the introduction of seasonal features, colored menu boards, new punch cards for seasonal hot and cold lattes, its own Facebook page Cafe and a feature on its own at our parish website at its Cafe Page! And if you can spare time to help a little on Sunday, please let Lorraine know. Join us every Sunday and see what’s cooking’!
Updated Ministry Schedules Posted. The computer generated schedules for serving were tedious to read and so new ministry schedules were released this month in a simpler format and that cover two months at a time! Click Schedules and let us know how we did and see where you are scheduled to help serve?
Advent 40-Hour Devotion Coming December 3rd! If you have interest in deepening your devotion to Christ, join us for a “40 Hours with Jesus: An Advent Devotional” for the Season of Advent! It is like a mini retreat where we will devote time to confessions, adoration, and sitting with our Lord! The Forty Hours Devotion is a special 40-hour period of continuous prayer made before the Blessed Sacrament in solemn exposition and will begin with a Mass on Thursday, December 3rd 2015 at 6:00pm. The Forty Hours Devotion begins with a Solemn Mass of Exposition, which concludes with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a procession. The Blessed Sacrament remains on the altar in a monstrance. During the next 40 hours, the faithful gather for personal or public prayer in adoration of our Lord. At the end of the 40 hour devotion, the Mass of Reposition is offered, again concluding with a procession, benediction and final reposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Download a Flyer Here Today and then join us as we ‘sit, watch, and wait’ with Our Lord this year! Sign up in the Diener Room today, or see anyone on staff. You really do not want to miss this one!
Bring a Toys for Tots This Week! The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and we help through our Zion Preschool every year! See the box in the school/admin wing this week and make a child’s holiday brighter!
Join us for the Annual Tree Lighting and Memorial? Every year the fine folks at Boyd-Horrox Funeral Home, Life Celebrationsand our own Rick Falicki hold an annual tree lighting and remembrance for those who suffered a loss. This year, they have invited Monsignor Jim to be a featured speaker. Please join us – and support our pastor in his own grief this year – on Wednesday, December 9th 2015 at 6:30pm at 200 West Germantown Pike Norristown, PA 19401. Remember to share the grief of others to help heal the world this holiday season.
Help Promote Saint Miriam? There are many simple ways to support the parish and one is to share and like all of our posts from our various Social media pages like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Remember, if you don’t share people don’t see the posts!
Download Our App and Stay In Touch! Our Saint Miriam Parish App was recently updated and features faster download times, and a ‘refresh’ button for the newest content! Download the App by Clicking Here, and be sure to tell your friends as it is a great outreach tool!
Saint Miriam in Support: Join and Grow our Mission!
Ways to Support Saint Miriam? There are many ways to support the mission of our parish and a flyer has been prepared to show you how easy it is! Please learn about GoodSearch, GoodShop, eBay, and Amazon Smile! Please support us and pick up a flyer or Support Flyer one today!
Mass Donations Needed! As Catholics the most important thing we do is pray and offer the sacrifice of the Mass. Please…don’t forget to make your Mass intentions today by Clicking Here. Together, we honor God in Mass.
SCRIP is Back, Baby! With our preschool parents asking for SCRIP, we will dust off the program! Scrip is Fundraising While You Shop®. This amazingly successful fundraising program works for any school, church, team, club or other non-profit! Scrip turns everyday shopping into cash for your organization when families use retail gift cards to pay for everyday purchases (like gas and groceries) instead of the usual credit/debit card or other money. Scrip works equally well for onetime fundraising goals or year-round programs. Download the Categorized Family Order Form or see anyone on Staff to pre-order (or check out our in-stock cards by calling 215-836-9800 x 707) and join in and watch us grow…all because of you!
Get Your Candles! Everyone loves Yankee Candles! Great gifts for holidays, anniversaries, hostess gifts and birthdays. Order online and product is shipped directly to your home and Saint Miriam receives 40% profit. Volunteers will be available throughout the campaign to assist you with your online orders. Just click on this link , our group code is 990048826. Now you can click on a category and start shopping for America’s best loved candles and accessories. Please support Saint Miriam and help us grow. The sales dates are September 27, 2015 – October 12, 2015. The online campaign is extended to December 31, 2015. Let’s all pray for success!
Get Your Mass Intentions In Person Beginning Today? Join the Women of Saint Miriam after any Mass and make your Mass Intentions live and in person! Now you can honor a loved one in person and online, too!
Search, Smile, and Make a Difference! Please support Saint Miriam by downloading and using GoodSearch and GoodShop! Our current total raised is $855.80! Every time you search or buy, we get a small percentage and you get great deals, and often free shipping! Also use Smile Amazon and make us your charity of choice! It all adds up!
Saint Miriam in Petite: Join a Small Group!
Life is not meant to be lived alone. In fact, God hates loneliness. You were created to experience life with other people, and that’s why at Saint Miriam, we encourage you to get involved in one of our amazing Small Groups!
A ‘Small Group” is a group of three or more people who gather each month in a home, workplace, or oftentimes in our parish. In a group you’ll hang out, study, discuss, laugh, discover, and even pray together! They include Sacred Meal Dinner, Support, Foyer Dinner, Fitness, Spirituality, Women, Prayer Shawl Ministry, and so many more! Our Small Group participants come in all shapes and sizes — married couples, singles, men, women, kids, no kids, workplace, under 20, over 40 — the list goes on! So, no matter where you are in life, there’s a group waiting just for you.
Ready to dive in? Find a group that fits you or start one of your own! Click Here to visit our Small Group page!
Feature Small Group Announcement…
The Sacristy Guild!
The word sacristy stems from the Latin “sacer,” or “sacred” and that is exactly what this group does by maintaining and caring for the most sacred items we use at Saint Miriam. The Sacristy Guild oversees a great breadth of coverage in preparing for each service and Mass. The Guild members change paraments, they set out communion ware, set out the Paschal candle if needed, mark liturgical readings in the Ambo found in the Lectionary and Gospel Book, and organize pew hymnals. The Sacristy Guild also helps with cleaning the linens after a communion, polishing the silver communion ware, when needed, replace votive candles, and help to prepare and then clean the homebound Communion kits.
For more information, or to help us in this vital area, please see Deacon Pat, or contact us!
Saint Miriam in Fellowship: The Saint Miriam Cafe’!
Just click on this link for this Month’s Menu in PDF format and have it all month long!
The November Menu!
Saint Miriam in Calendar Form: Event Highlights!
(Visit our Parish Calendar Here for full weekly, monthly, and yearly schedules.)
November 22nd – Honoring those who Serve our Parish at 11:00am Morning Mass!
November 24th – Annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner at 12:00pm at our PreSchool! (Undercroft Fellowship)
November 24th –Community Thanksgiving Interfaith Worship Service at 7:30pm (at Christ’s Lutheran, Oreland)
November 29th –Baptism of Victoria Olson at 11:00am Morning Mass.
December 3rd – 40 Hours Devotional begins at 6:00pm!
December 12th – Parents Night Out from 6:00pm – 9:00pm!
December 22nd – The Longest Night Service at 6:30pm!
The Weekly Focus @ Saint Miriam: November 15th 2015
Saint Miriam in Prose: From our Pastor
Click Here to visit our pastor’s Blog for this week!
Saint Miriam in Prayer: Remembering!
Sue, Vince, Nick, Irma, Mary Grace, Ricky, Susan, Dave, Christopher, Patrick, Bessie, Robert, Rich, Guy, Eleanore, Ed, Liz and Jane, Paulette, Patricia, Bill, Louise, Marie, Ruth, BJ, Angela, Chester, Stacia, Victoria, James, Juliana, Charles, Fred, and Dee.
(To be included in our prayer list, or to receive pastoral care, communion for shut ins, or any other pastoral need, please let us know by Clicking Here.)
Saint Miriam in Brief: A Quick Look!
Today we … honorThe Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time!
Holiday Happenings in Color (on-line version please)? We heard you! Some of the many holiday celebrations and happenings at the parish were getting lost with all the news so we colored the headlines below in a festive green to help make them easy to spot! Anything in the bright green headlines are holiday happenings and we hope you will join us!
Parents’ Night Out for December! Three full hours of babysitting by the finest staff on the planet – all for only $15 and you can go out to shop, eat, or just gain some needed downtime! Click Here and get your reservation in for Saturday, December 12th from 6:00pm – 9:00pm and enjoy yourselves! AND!!! If you purchase $200 in SCRIP Cards (see below) you get the three hours FREE!
Attention PREP Parents: Thank you to everyone for ensuring that your child(ren) attend PREP classes each week! While we always strive for 100% attendance each week, we understand that things come up. Please be sure to contact Dr. Little if you know that your child will not be in attendance for class as this helps the teachers prepare. While many of you have been doing this (THANK YOU!), some have not. [As a reminder, in order for your child to receive their attendance badge at the recognition mass in May, they must not miss more than four (4) classes.] This will also impact their progression in the program next year. If your child is missing more than four classes, special arrangements must be made to have them make up any work that was missed (this does not pertain to PREPlay).
Also, as a reminder our Annual Concert and Silent Auction is coming up next Friday, November 20th. All families are asked to either purchase or sell four (4) tickets. Please see Dr. Little, Alan, or Kathleen to pick up your tickets THIS Sunday if you have not already purchased them. Additionally, please remember to have your child bring their envelopes. If you forgot it, please just ask the greeter and they will get you one.
Finally, as noted in the parent PREP letter, which was handed out at our annual parent meeting, please remember that we are asking all families to come out for a minimum of two Thursday evening Masses and the Rosary beginning at 6:00pm. When you come, please be sure to sign in. Please call or contact Dr. Shaun Little by clicking Here.
It’s Sacred Meal Time! Join us on Wednesday, November 18, 2016 at 6:30 pm! PLEASE let Father Joseph, or Deacon Pat, know if you are able to come and what you can bring to share with us. And if you are able to help set up, please come 15 minutes early, I think we should keep me out of the Kitchen this month! Join us and honor a new tradition!
A Note from the Finance Committee! Some parishioners have not made their monthly contributions toward their Capital Campaign pledges. Please do not let this go any longer, as your promise allows us to maintain and grow the building projects. Without your financial support, we will not be able to sustain the project on the wooded lot, nor satisfy the recent move and build-out obligations. Please see Alan TODAY or email us by Clicking Here to set up your eGift. Join us and honor what we promised!
Saint Miriam in Life: News!
Get Your Concert Tickets! Our annual Concert of Strings and Keys and Silent Auction will take place on Friday, November 20th at 6:00pm and you don’t want to miss this one! Join us and get your tickets online by Clicking Here! If we sell a minimum of 50 tickets, Monsignor Jim will play at the concert! Food, family, friends, wine, and great gifts with super music!
Plan to Join us for ‘The Longest Night’ on December 22nd! Our annual tradition, “The Longest Night Service”, a ‘Blue Christmas’ Service will again occur on December 22nd at 6:30pm. Please join us and learn more about this beautiful happening Here.
Tuesday is Library Day! Next Tuesday a few of our parishioners will be giving a couple hour of their time to help organize our Lending Library! Please join them at 4:30pm on Tuesday, November 17th to help!
Visit the Cafe’ On-Line, too! Our Saint Miriam Cafe’ is such a hit and now will grow again with the introduction of seasonal features, colored menu boards, new punch cards for seasonal hot and cold lattes, its own Facebook page Cafe and a feature on its own at our parish website at its Cafe Page! And if you can spare time to help a little on Sunday, please let Lorraine know. Join us every Sunday and see what’s cooking’!
Serving the Parish Community as a Lay Minister? If you serve as a reader, greeter, altar server, sacristan or usher, please join us as we honor you on Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 at the 11:00am Mass! Everyone receives a gift and a little love, too! Join us as we honor those who honor us!
Updated Ministry Schedules Posted. The computer generated schedules for serving were tedious to read and so new ministry schedules were released this month in a simpler format and that cover two months at a time! Click Schedules and let us know how we did and see where you are scheduled to help serve?
Advent 40-Hour Devotion Coming December 3rd! If you have interest in deepening your devotion to Christ, join us for a “40 Hours with Jesus: An Advent Devotional” for the Season of Advent! It is like a mini retreat where we will devote time to confessions, adoration, and sitting with our Lord! The Forty Hours Devotion is a special 40-hour period of continuous prayer made before the Blessed Sacrament in solemn exposition and will begin with a Mass on Thursday, December 3rd 2015 at 6:00pm. The Forty Hours Devotion begins with a Solemn Mass of Exposition, which concludes with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a procession. The Blessed Sacrament remains on the altar in a monstrance. During the next 40 hours, the faithful gather for personal or public prayer in adoration of our Lord. At the end of the 40 hour devotion, the Mass of Reposition is offered, again concluding with a procession, benediction and final reposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Download a Flyer Here Today and then join us as we ‘sit, watch, and wait’ with Our Lord this year! Sign up in the Diener Room today, or see anyone on staff. You really do not want to miss this one!
Bring a Toys for Tots This Week! The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and we help through our Zion Preschool every year! See the box in the school/admin wing this week and make a child’s holiday brighter!
Join us for Thanksgiving Dinner! Every year our Zion Preschool at Saint Miriam holds an annual Thanksgiving Day Brunch for the students, families, and staff! Deep fried and baked turkey, stuffing, relish dishes, desserts and so much more! Join us on Tuesday, November 24th 2015 at 12 Noon and show your Saint Miriam spirit of thanksgiving! To bring a dish, RSVP, or learn more…email us here!
Community Thanksgiving Interfaith Worship Service! Monsignor Jim will be a featured speaker at the annual Community Thanksgiving Interfaith Worship Service to be held on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 7:30pm at Christ’s Lutheran Church, Pennsylvania Avenue, Oreland, PA. Please plan on joining us and supporting Father!
Join us for the Annual Tree Lighting and Memorial? Every year the fine folks at Boyd-Horrox Funeral Home, Life Celebrations and our own Rick Falicki hold an annual tree lighting and remembrance for those who suffered a loss. This year, they have invited Monsignor Jim to be a featured speaker. Please join us – and support our pastor in his own grief this year – on Wednesday, December 9th 2015 at 6:30pm at 200 West Germantown Pike Norristown, PA 19401. Remember to share the grief of others to help heal the world this holiday season.
Help Promote Saint Miriam? There are many simple ways to support the parish and one is to share and like all of our posts from our various Social media pages like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Remember, if you don’t share people don’t see the posts!
Download Our App and Stay In Touch! Our Saint Miriam Parish App was recently updated and features faster download times, and a ‘refresh’ button for the newest content! Download the App by Clicking Here, and be sure to tell your friends as it is a great outreach tool!
Saint Miriam in Support: Join and Grow our Mission!
Ways to Support Saint Miriam? There are many ways to support the mission of our parish and a flyer has been prepared to show you how easy it is! Please learn about GoodSearch, GoodShop, eBay, and Amazon Smile! Please support us and pick up a flyer or Support Flyer one today!
Mass Donations Needed! As Catholics the most important thing we do is pray and offer the sacrifice of the Mass. Please…don’t forget to make your Mass intentions today by Clicking Here. Together, we honor God in Mass.
SCRIP is Back, Baby! With our preschool parents asking for SCRIP, we will dust off the program! Scrip is Fundraising While You Shop®. This amazingly successful fundraising program works for any school, church, team, club or other non-profit! Scrip turns everyday shopping into cash for your organization when families use retail gift cards to pay for everyday purchases (like gas and groceries) instead of the usual credit/debit card or other money. Scrip works equally well for onetime fundraising goals or year-round programs. Download the Categorized Family Order Form or see anyone on Staff to pre-order (or check out our in-stock cards by calling 215-836-9800 x 707) and join in and watch us grow…all because of you!
Get Your Candles! Everyone loves Yankee Candles! Great gifts for holidays, anniversaries, hostess gifts and birthdays. Order online and product is shipped directly to your home and Saint Miriam receives 40% profit. Volunteers will be available throughout the campaign to assist you with your online orders. Just click on this link , our group code is 990048826. Now you can click on a category and start shopping for America’s best loved candles and accessories. Please support Saint Miriam and help us grow. The sales dates are September 27, 2015 – October 12, 2015. The online campaign is extended to December 31, 2015. Let’s all pray for success!
Get Your Mass Intentions In Person Beginning Today? Join the Women of Saint Miriam after any Mass and make your Mass Intentions live and in person! Now you can honor a loved one in person and online, too!
Search, Smile, and Make a Difference! Please support Saint Miriam by downloading and using GoodSearch and GoodShop! Our current total raised is $853.32! Every time you search or buy, we get a small percentage and you get great deals, and often free shipping! Also use Smile Amazon and make us your charity of choice! It all adds up!
Saint Miriam in Petite: Join a Small Group!
Life is not meant to be lived alone. In fact, God hates loneliness. You were created to experience life with other people, and that’s why at Saint Miriam, we encourage you to get involved in one of our amazing Small Groups!
A ‘Small Group” is a group of three or more people who gather each month in a home, workplace, or oftentimes in our parish. In a group you’ll hang out, study, discuss, laugh, discover, and even pray together! They include Sacred Meal Dinner, Support, Foyer Dinner, Fitness, Spirituality, Women, Prayer Shawl Ministry, and so many more! Our Small Group participants come in all shapes and sizes — married couples, singles, men, women, kids, no kids, workplace, under 20, over 40 — the list goes on! So, no matter where you are in life, there’s a group waiting just for you.
Ready to dive in? Find a group that fits you or start one of your own! Click Here to visit our Small Group page!
Feature Small Group Announcement…
The Sacred Meal Dinner Group!
In large cities one can feel like a tiny cog in a very large machine. Shuffled down crowded city streets, elbowed on subway train cars and stuffed into elevators, many of us feel nameless and unseen for much of our day. Enter our new Sacred Meal Dinner Group! A small, monthly gathering of folks over a warm meal that they cook together. We gather to share what we call a “sacred meal”, a worship service that takes place around an actual dinner table in the parish fellowship hall. The meal is patterned after those shared by Christians in the first few centuries of the church, which evolved into our current day “Holy Communion” celebrations with participants sharing the bread and the cup. Everyone is known by name (everyone gets a name tag) and folks there for the first time are invited to jump right in and chop vegetables, or set out silverware, or place settings. Join us to share a meal, tell your story and weave it into our story, work together, eat together, and uncover a new way to explore God and each other! This group meets monthly on the 3rd Wednesday (This Week!) in the Undercroft at 6:30pm. For more information visit our Master Calendar, or contact us!
Saint Miriam in Fellowship: The Saint Miriam Cafe’!
Just click on this link for this Month’s Menu in PDF format and have it all month long!
The November Menus!
Saint Miriam in Calendar Form: Event Highlights!
(Visit our Parish Calendar Here for full weekly, monthly, and yearly schedules.)
November 15th –Baptism Sunday at 11:00am Morning Mass.
– Executive Committee Meeting at 12:30pm (Pastor’s Office)
November 20th – Annual Concert of Strings and Keys and Silent Auction at 6:00pm!
November 22nd – Honoring those who Serve our Parish at 11:00am Morning Mass!
November 24th – Annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner at 12:00pm at our PreSchool! (Undercroft Fellowship)
November 24th –Community Thanksgiving Interfaith Worship Service at 7:30pm (at Christ’s Lutheran, Oreland)
November 29th –Baptism of Victoria Olson at 11:00am Morning Mass.
December 3rd – 40 Hours Devotional begins at 6:00pm!
December 12th – Parents Night Out from 6:00pm – 9:00pm!
December 22nd – The Longest Night Service at 6:30pm!
The Weekly Focus @ Saint Miriam: November 8th 2015
Saint Miriam in Prose: From our Pastor
Click Here to visit our pastor’s Blog for this week!
Saint Miriam in Prayer: Remembering!
Mary Grace, Ricky, Susan, Dave, Christopher, Patrick, Bessie, Robert, Rich, Guy, Eleanore, Ed, Liz and Jane, Paulette, Patricia, Bill, Louise, Marie, Ruth, BJ, Angela, Chester, Stacia, Victoria, James, Juliana, Charles, Fred, and Dee.
(To be included in our prayer list, or to receive pastoral care, communion for shut ins, or any other pastoral need, please let us know by Clicking Here.)
Saint Miriam in Brief: A Quick Look!
Today we … honorThe Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time!
New Schedules in New Format Are Here! We heard you! The computer generated schedules for serving were tedious and a burden so new ministry schedules were released this week in a simple format and that cover two months at a time! Click Schedules and let us know how we did?
Saint Miriam in Life: News!
Get Your Concert Tickets! Our annual Concert of Strings and Keys and Silent Auction will take place on Friday, November 20th at 6:00pm and you don’t want to miss this one! Join us and get your tickets online by Clicking Here! If we sell a minimum of 50 tickets, Monsignor Jim will play at the concert! Food, family, friends, wine, and great gifts with super music!
Plan to Join us for ‘The Longest Night’ on December 22nd! Our annual tradition, “The Longest Night Service”, a ‘Blue Christmas’ Service will again occur on December 22nd at 6:30pm. Please join us and learn more about this beautiful happening Here.
Funeral set for Ms. Williams. An article was forwarded to Monsignor last week regarding the murder of a transgendered woman in the city, named Diamond Williams. She was killed two+ years ago and having been disowned by her family her remains have been left at the Medical Examiner’s office until she was recently cremated. Therefore, on Saturday, November 14th we will give her the dignity of a burial with a brief memorial followed by internment in our Union Cemetery of Whitmarsh at Saint Miriam. The services begin at 11:00am. Please join us as we perform an act of corporal mercy.
Visit the Cafe’ On-Line, too! Our Saint Miriam Cafe’ is such a hit and now will grow again with the introduction of seasonal features, colored menu boards, new punch cards for seasonal hot and cold lattes, its own Facebook page Cafe and a feature on its own at our parish website at its Cafe Page! And if you can spare time to help a little on Sunday, please let Lorraine know. Join us every Sunday and see what’s cooking’!
Serving the Parish Community as a Lay Minister? If you serve as a reader, greeter, altar server, sacristan or usher, please join us as we honor you on Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 at the 11:00am Mass! Everyone receives a gift and a little love, too! Join us as we honor those who honor us!
Advent 40-Hour Devotion Coming! If you have interest in deepening your devotion to Christ, join us for a “40 Hours with Jesus: An Advent Devotional” for the Season of Advent! It is like a mini retreat where we will devote time to confessions, adoration, and sitting with our Lord! The Forty Hours Devotion is a special 40-hour period of continuous prayer made before the Blessed Sacrament in solemn exposition and will begin with a Mass on Thursday, December 3rd 2015 at 6:00pm. The Forty Hours Devotion begins with a Solemn Mass of Exposition, which concludes with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a procession. The Blessed Sacrament remains on the altar in a monstrance. During the next 40 hours, the faithful gather for personal or public prayer in adoration of our Lord. At the end of the 40 hour devotion, the Mass of Reposition is offered, again concluding with a procession, benediction and final reposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Join us as we ‘sit, watch, and wait’ with Our Lord this year! Sign up in the Diener Room today or see anyone on staff. You really do not want to miss this one!
Toys for Tots Collection is Active! The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and we help through our Zion Preschool every year! See the box in the school/admin wing starting October 30th!
Join us for Thanksgiving Dinner! Every year our Zion Preschool at Saint Miriam holds an annual Thanksgiving Day Brunchfor the students, families, and staff! Deep fried and baked turkey, stuffing, relish dishes, desserts and so much more! Join us on Tuesday, November 24th 2015 at 12 Noon and show your Saint Miriam spirit of thanksgiving! To bring a dish, RSVP, or learn more…email us here!
Community Thanksgiving Interfaith Worship Service! Monsignor Jim will be a featured speaker at the annual Community Thanksgiving Interfaith Worship Service to be held on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 7:30pm at Christ’s Lutheran Church, Pennsylvania Avenue, Oreland, PA. Please plan on joining us and supporting Father!
Help Promote Saint Miriam? There are many simple ways to support the parish and one is to share and like all of our posts from our various Social media pages like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Remember, if you don’t share people don’t see the posts!
Download Our App and Stay In Touch! Our Saint Miriam Parish App was recently updated and features faster download times, and a ‘refresh’ button for the newest content! Download the App by Clicking Here, and be sure to tell your friends as it is a great outreach tool!
Saint Miriam in Support: Join and Grow our Mission!
Ways to Support Saint Miriam? There are many ways to support the mission of our parish and a flyer has been prepared to show you how easy it is! Please learn about GoodSearch, GoodShop, eBay, and Amazon Smile! Please support us and pick up a flyer or Support Flyer one today!
Mass Donations Needed! As Catholics the most important thing we do is pray and offer the sacrifice of the Mass. Please…don’t forget to make your Mass intentions today by Clicking Here. Together, we honor God in Mass.
SCRIP is Back, Baby! With our preschool parents asking for SCRIP, we will dust off the program! Get ready for the re-launch of SCRIP soon! Scrip is Fundraising While You Shop®. This amazingly successful fundraising program works for any school, church, team, club or other non-profit! Scrip turns everyday shopping into cash for your organization when families use retail gift cards to pay for everyday purchases (like gas and groceries) instead of the usual credit/debit card or other money. Scrip works equally well for onetime fundraising goals or year-round programs. Our partner, Great Lakes Scrip Center®, has helped thousands of organizations earn more than 500 million dollars over the last 20 years and we have had a program almost since we began the parish! Download the Categorized Family Order Form and join in and watch us grow…all because of you!
Get Your Candles! Everyone loves Yankee Candles! Great gifts for holidays, anniversaries, hostess gifts and birthdays. Order online and product is shipped directly to your home and Saint Miriam receives 40% profit. Volunteers will be available throughout the campaign to assist you with your online orders. Just click on this link , our group code is 990048826. Now you can click on a category and start shopping for America’s best loved candles and accessories. Please support Saint Miriam and help us grow. The sales dates are September 27, 2015 – October 12, 2015. The online campaign is extended to December 31, 2015. Let’s all pray for success!
Get Your Mass Intentions In Person Beginning Today? Join the Women of Saint Miriam after any Mass and make your Mass Intentions live and in person! Now you can honor a loved one in person and online, too!
Search, Smile, and Make a Difference! Please support Saint Miriam by downloading and using GoodSearch and GoodShop! Our current total raised is $846.23! Every time you search or buy, we get a small percentage and you get great deals, and often free shipping! Also use Smile Amazon and make us your charity of choice! It all adds up!
Saint Miriam in Petite: Join a Small Group!
Life is not meant to be lived alone. In fact, God hates loneliness. You were created to experience life with other people, and that’s why at Saint Miriam, we encourage you to get involved in one of our amazing Small Groups!
A small group is a group of three or more people who gather each month in a home, workplace, or our parish. In a group you’ll hang out, study, discuss, and discover, and pray together. They include Sacred Meal, Support, Dinner, Fitness, Spirituality, Women, Prayer Shawls, and so many more!
Our Small Group participants come in all shapes and sizes — married couples, singles, men, women, kids, no kids, workplace, under 20, over 40 — the list goes on. No matter where you are in life, there’s a group for you.
Ready to dive in? Find a group that fits you or start one of your own! Click Here to visit our Small Group page!
Feature Small Group Announcement…
The Women of Saint Miriam!
If you are looking for fun, fellowship and friendship with a wonderful group of faithful women, please join us on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00. We meet in the Undercroft Fellowship Hall for a simple meal of soup, salad and sweets. We enjoy each other’s company and talk about ways we can support our parish.The WSM spearhead the Yankee Candle and Mixed Bags sales and we support Laurel House, a local women’s shelter. Please see Pat Wilcke for more information or email her at patwilcke@verizon.net. We hope you’ll join us!
Saint Miriam in Fellowship: The Saint Miriam Cafe’!
Just click on this link for this Month’s Menu in PDF format and have it all month long!
The November Menus!
Saint Miriam in Calendar Form: Event Highlights!
(Visit our Parish Calendar Here for full weekly, monthly, and yearly schedules.)
November 15th –Baptism Sunday at 11:00am Morning Mass.
November 20th – Annual Concert and Silent Auction at 6:00pm!
November 22nd – Honoring those who Serve our Parish at 11:00am Morning Mass!
November 24th – Annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner at 12:00pm at the School!
November 24th –Community Thanksgiving Interfaith Worship Service at 7:30pm (Christ’s Lutheran, Oreland)
November 29th –Baptism of Victoria Olson at 11:00am Morning Mass.
December 22nd – The Longest Night Service at 6:30pm!